Bucs D rips up Redskins stat sheet John Romano, The St.Petersburg Times, published 9 December 1996 The first impression is what counts. And Tampa Bay's first impression left a helmet imprint on Gus Frerotte's chest. Fifteen minutes into Sunday's game, the Redskins had to know they were in trouble against the Bucs defense. This was a team with the fewest turnovers in the NFL. (The Bucs forced two, both in the first quarter.) This was a team with the second-fewest sacks in the NFL. (Hardy Nickerson drilled Frerotte on the third play.) This was the best running team in the NFC. (Washington's 41 rushing yards was its worst effort of the season.) "We wanted to set a precedent early and let them know they weren't going to run the ball on us," Nickerson said. "And then we could snuff them out with our pass defense." "Snuff" would be one good description. "Dominate" would be another. Defensive tackle Warren Sapp said something about a "can of whup a--." Any way you describe it, the Bucs defense proved superior against a team that might yet win the NFC East. After holding eight of its past nine opponents under 17 points, is this a playoff-caliber defense? "Yes it is," said safety John Lynch, who forced a first-quarter fumble. "I wish we were still in the hunt. It's a shame because here's a team that might go to the playoffs, and they're a good team, but I think at this point we're just as good, or better." Tampa Bay's defensive philosophy was simple. Take Terry Allen out of the game and watch the Redskins panic. Frerotte may have one of the better quarterback ratings in the NFC, but much of his success is based on the threat of Allen. "Nothing against Gus - he's been doing great - but Terry has been the heart of that team. He's having a great year," defensive end Chidi Ahanotu said. "So we knew if we shut him down, once we got them into passing situations, we were going to be in their face all day." Allen was practically a non-factor by the time the first quarter ended. The Bucs had stuffed the run early and the two turnovers had been converted to a 10-0 lead. Unable to run and unable to waste time while behind, the Redskins spent most of the second half throwing. Allen's 36 yards rushing was his second-worst outing in the past two years. "The same thing happened to them that happened to us," coach Tony Dungy said, referring to last week's loss at Carolina. We got behind last week on turnovers, and then it's tough to stay in your game. We got them out of their element. We took Terry Allen out of it because of the score, and that helps." Martin Mayhew delivered the first turnover, timing an out pattern by tight end Jamie Asher and diving in front of Frerotte's pass for his first interception of the season. In three plays, the offense covered 39 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead. On Washington's next possession, Ahanotu stopped Allen on a first-down play, and the ball popped loose when Lynch delivered a hit from behind. Although replays indicated Allen was down, the Bucs were given possession when Regan Upshaw grabbed the ball. A half-dozen plays later, Michael Husted hit a 42-yard field goal, and the Bucs were rolling 10-0. "The concrete is hardening. The foundation is setting," Sapp said. "This defensive system fits us like a great tuxedo. With this system and the people we've got, the sky is the limit."